COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund Raises Nearly $240,000

The Northern New Jersey Community Foundation (NNJCF) announces its COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund has raised nearly $240,000 since being launched in late March. The NNJCF's COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund, undertaken in collaboration with The Community Chest, will provide one time only grants to support urgent funding needs of small local nonprofit organizations and nonprofit arts organizations and nonprofits providing arts programs and services in Bergen County to build community engagement in a time of isolation. To meet increasing demands for services provided by nonprofit organizations in the area, the public asked to donate and help meet the escalating need brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Information about the Fund is available on the foundation's website. Grants will not be awarded to individuals.

Support for the COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund has come from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, NEC Financial Services via the NEC Foundation of America, Visions Federal Credit Union, individuals and other donors. With a donation from the NEC Foundation of America, four initial grant awards were made to Englewood Hospital (Englewood Health Foundation), Hackensack University Medical Center Foundation, Holy Name Medical Center Foundation, and The Valley Hospital Foundation to support healthcare professionals working on the frontlines in the hospitals.

“Upon joining the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation as the COVID-19 pandemic crisis was unfolding, I saw the opportunity for the NNJCF to assume a leadership role in addressing the local impact of this virus. It is gratifying to see the community come together and raise so much in a short period. As the virus spreads, we see residents' needs and the organizations serving them continue to grow. These funds will help local nonprofit organizations working in our backyards support our neighbors through this crisis," said Mary Blanusa, Executive Director of the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation.

Make a Donation

As frontline nonprofit organizations continue to address escalating demands for services during the pandemic, individuals, businesses, and organizations are welcome to donate to the COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund. Information and donations to the NNJCF's COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund may be made on the organization's website. Contributions may also be sent by check made out to 'The Northern NJ Community Foundation', with 'COVID-19 Rapid Response Fund' entered in the memo line, to: the Northern New Jersey Community Foundation, 1 University Plaza, Suite 128, Hackensack, New Jersey 07601. Donations are tax-deductible, as permitted by law. For further information, contact nnjcf@nnjcf.org or 201-568-5608.